Tuesday brought a really nice day and a very bad mood. I wanted no part of school or football but I had to be there. Then there was the Textron meeting with Kyle. Dressed in khakis and a long sleeve shirt and for some reason tossed a tie around my neck untied and threw on a hoodie and left for school. I was a tad late and Heather was nowhere to be found so I was talking with a couple of teammates. They were equally pissed and I wanted none of it so I listened for a while and went to English walking in as the bell was ringing. I sat down and class started. That might have lasted three minutes when over the intercom I was asked to report to the Athletic Office. I simply sat there and was asked Mr. Simmons, why are you still here? I replied that they didn't say when and that I would rather be here. She actually laughed but said, well as you so elegantly reminded me the other day there are other students in this class. Please leave before we are interrupted again. I nodded and grabbed my stuff and took the long way to the Athletic office. At the office Nancy said Mike, they are waiting for you in Chuck's office. I just looked and she laughed and said well the drama is in the conference room and you will like what's going on in the office.
The boor was open so I knocked and looked in and immediately had a big smile as it was Coach B and another coach from VT. We shook hands and Coach B said Mike, I wanted to introduce you to Bart Westerfield, he is my new Defensive Coordinator. I said Coach it's a pleasure to meet you. He smiled and said son, the pleasure is all mine. I've seen so much of you on film I feel I know you. Coach Weston laughed and said, damn that's the first time someone has called Mike "SON" and there hasn't been an explosion. I shrugged and said, well I'm just practicing for next year as a rookie it is study, workout, say "yes sir" a lot, have no opinion and start at linebacker. Coach B said, damn that's not the kid I recruited. We all laughed. Coach Weston said, well guys I'll be back at some point as I'm trying to negotiate a truce. I just started to laugh.
Once it was just the three of us Coach B said Mike, you guys are having a great year on the field. Why all the drama? Coach, around 5:30 Friday evening a switch is turned on and we are a very tight football team and when the game is over the switch is turned off and we go our separate ways. We pull together somewhat for practice and when we somehow feel there is a injustice. Coach Westerfield smiled and asked Mike, why don't you understand that? I blinked and just looked at him. Mike, with the exception of two guys in the conference room and that soccer star who kicks you have been the team leader since 5th grade. Now as a Senior you are the sole of the program. Yes this your team and they have bought into your program, even the coaches. Coach you have been doing a hell of a lot more than looking at film.The heirs to your team are in the conference room breaking in a couple of underclassmen who will either get with the program or move on. Mike, is football challenging for you this year? I smiled and said well not yet and that might not change till states, if we make it that far. Mike, where does football stand in your life? Coach, I have discussed this with Coach B, it's family, school, work and football and then everything els? Coach, I'll have enough credits, with summer courses at CMU to finish in 2-1/2 years and will play football for 3. Yes, there will be my personal jet parked at a nearby airport and I will travel home when necessary and be back for practice. I will maintain only enough credits to play football. None of that should be new. I want to have a college life and I'm not and will not ever be 100% football. There are other things in life. So coach do I still have an offer or do I need to stun the world this weekend and announce on national TV that I have opened my recruiting? I'm still the highest rated High school linebacker in the country. Coach B said Mike, we have built an entire recruiting class around you so don't fuck things up. We are good but Bart here needed to meet Mike Simmons and I'm sure he wasn't disappointed. Mike, we will meet with JJ after lunch and have a meeting with Josh and his family tonight and tomorrow we will meet with Allen and his parents. Coach that's great and if your free tomorrow for lunch, I would like to show you my building as it is 90% done. Coach B said that would be great and Bart asked, what building? I simply left for Physics at this point.
Much to my surprise Physics was just starting and for the second time today I was a bit late. Class was on waves and frequency's and I was bored out of my mind but was way ahead on the math side of things. By the end of class I was interested and involved. It was good to be engaged in something. I had no reading on football so I simply signed out for work. At work I walked through the first floor and chatted with a few people but noticed the conference room blinds were down so there was a private meeting going on. Up on 4 I chatted with Amy and noticed Kyle wasn't in his office and knew instantly that I had a complicated afternoon. Liam was in my office and he had pictures on the wall and he said I'm just playing as they are up with putty that won't mark the wall. I wanted to make sure you were good with things for next weekend and Diane. Mike a couple of things, if you don't mind. I need a few changes made to the contract. I will need only expenses for working for Cole until he turns Pro. Then I want him to pay me the full amount a Tour Caddy gets with half going to the caddy scholarship fund in your foundation. With that he handed me a signed contract with the changes initialed. I simply signed the contract and initialed where indicated and said welcome aboard. Then he said please don't shoot the messenger but you meeting in 30 minutes is with Kyle, Major Jim, Tim, and me. I laughed and asked why did you leave Heidikamp out of the list? Mike, I was about to ask you if he could attend? I simply laughed and said nicely done but I don't have a damn choice as he is in a meeting on the first floor as the shades are down. Liam call down and tell them that the Textron guy can stay but the meeting is in the conference room up here as I don't want the shades down for two meetings and in fact I don't want them down at all. Oh, remind Kyle he promised me lunch. Liam simply laughed and said take your meds, this is a big time meeting.
Liam picks up the phone and called the conference room and I didn't wait around and went outside and sat and looked at the river. It was the first few minutes I had to myself all day and I knew it would be the last till practice was over and I was in the simulator. Liam appeared and said that lunch was here and that everyone was in the conference room. We went to the conference room and I went right up to Heidikamp shook his hand and said why don't the two of us have lunch in my office so we can chat? He readily agreed and we each grabbed a sandwich and a drink and went to my office. He looked around and said wow, you are serious about an open office with very few secrets. I explained the blinds and said Bill, we got off to a bad start and I for one would like to fix that. Mike, that would be great as we were both somewhat of a jerk. Mike, why Cessna? I smiled and said the Major recommended it and we got a reasonable lease. It's the first plane I flew and I'm totally into flying. It needs to be higher, faster and a longer range. I thought the Citation VI would be a good buy as you guys need a solid upgrade. He laughed and said well we checked out your companies and Technologies was easy but try as we might we can't get a handle on Enterprises. I laughed and said well that's perfect. I throw a bunch of shit that way and it make money. He smiled and said like you own this marvel and rent it to your company. I laughed again and said no sense having too many eggs in the same place. So Bill, why me? There are a lot of people more visible than me. Mike, that's true but you have the biggest upside of all of them. You are an important influencer on the USGA, your brother and him being flown around the Pro Tour, your NASA connections and you know more top military people than me and you have contracts with the DOJ, DOD and most importantly withe the General Services Administration. As we grow we need an inventory control system and you guys invented that shit. Ok, what else? Well I want you to promote our planes and as we become the dominant force in private aviation you to provide whatever it is we become. I want to sell 400 aircraft and feel that you will with a little effort sell 50. I don't want you to be a used car salesman just like next weekend work it in. The model was a great idea. I laughed and said well it will beside this and I showed him the space shuttle model signed by the crew. With that we joined the others in the conference room.
Tim pulled me aside and said Mike, just stay calm as this is worth the 2 planes, the simulator and about a million clear a year for not much new. I laughed and said, with me hocking jets. Tim, I'm good. Just don't make me late for practice. Thankfully Kyle didn't go overboard with details but he did go into detail about my involvement and what I needed to do. I saw Liam taking notes and I knew that he had the details and that I had no choice but to do what is laid out in the agreement. It was too good of a deal for me to object. Kyle and Heidikamp signed the deal and I thanked everyone and left for practice.
At school Josh, Todd the two QB's and Coach were in the office and I simply padded up and went to the field. One of the assistants conducted warmups and finally coach and the guys returned. We were called together and we would be running plays and Wyatt was at QB and it was a simple running play with the handoff going to me and as I got the ball we were crushed and I fell hard on top of Wyatt. I got up and told coach I was done as I wasn't getting hurt in practice. Coach gave me a pass play and said just get back in there. Wyatt called the play and simply lined it right into Josh's face mask and all hell broke loose. It was a massive brawl and every senior just stood there and let it happen. I noticed that the coaches simply let it happen. It stopped pretty quickly as punching someone in equipment always hurt. When it ended Josh had Wyatt by the face mask and was screaming at him. Josh let go and stood there staring.
Once things were calm we started again with Clark at QB and it was the same. The difference was that the Seniors would just stand there indicating they had had enough and I readily participated in that. Coach called us together and said well, I'll see anyone who want to play Friday at 6:00 AM tomorrow and plan on 3:30 tomorrow afternoon as well. Figure it out and we will be practicing at 6 in the morning till you do. With that he walked away. I ran to get a shower and wasn't getting involved. I stopped for coffee and spent two hours trying to fly a Cessna Citation III, which was the early version of what I was getting. I spent 15 minutes getting acquainted with the instruments and immediately crashed on takeoff. I got in the air the second time and even managed a decent landing. It was a productive two hours and I was getting more and more comfortable.
I started for home but was starving and stopped at McDonalds and ate in the parking lot. I laughed when I checked my messages and looked at the list and called JJ. When he answered I asked how his afternoon was and he said well it was the best part of the day but that's not saying much. I laughed and said well it will end tomorrow but I betting Wyatt's grandfather is behind Wyatt's attitude. MJ he is a respected coach, no way would he put up with that. JJ he isn't putting up with anything, remember he opted out. JJ, I'm going to call him. He laughed and said well as I need to be up at 5:00 don't call me. I smiled and said goodnight. I called Coach Carson using the number on my phone from last night and it went to voicemail. I left a message saying COACH THIS IS MIKE SIMMONS AND IM HOPING YOU WILL PROVIDE THE COURTESY I EXTENDED LAST NIGHT, PLEASE CALL ME. Almost immediately the call was returned and I started to thank him for the call and was cut off with him saying courtesy my ass, you were rude and demeaning. Well coach that was because you are fucking up my football team. Please tell me how that is happening? Well Mr. Carson you are responsible for you grandsons poor attitude that has torn our team apart. You see Wyatt let it slip when he said he had three years to achieve his goals. The message was that he was protecting his ass. You should have told him why Clark was put in and that a few less yards on his resume didn't really matter. Instead he is developing a reputation you wouldn't put up with. Please fix this before it gets public and a senseless loss on Friday will do just that. In case you forgot a college football scholarship offer is based on a complete body of work. Have a good night and I hung up.
It was still early and I went in the house and found dad in his office and I went in and sat down. Dad smiled and asked well what's up? Dad nothing is up or the door would be closed. We haven't done this in weeks and I miss it. Dad lit a cigarette and poured two scotches and we talked about everything but football. It was the best half hour of the day. I made a mental not to stop to see him more often wondering who was pulling away faster. I went to my place, jumped into the shower, set the alarm for 5:00 and jumped into bed.
When I woke and checked the temperature it was 29 degrees and would get to the high 40's today. I laughed when I thought about JJ and what he would think about all this. I put on long underwear and sweats and drove to school having packed khakis and a sweater shirt. I actually grabbed my letterman's jacket and drove to school. I laughed as JJ had a winter coat on but there were no instructions or anything, so we just sat there. All of a sudden I started to laugh as I realized we weren't practicing we would sit here and at some point coach would tell us to change and get to class. Just as that thought passed two assistant coaches appeared holding a clipboard and were checking things off. I laughed again as they were taking attendance. Once that was done Coach Weston appeared and said, gentlemen we can do this for as long as you want but I need to field a team for Friday. So for this afternoon Seniors in full pads and I'm calling up enough JV team players so we can play Friday. Everyone else should be in the bleachers watching and we will once again take attendance the only acceptable excuse for missing would be your death certificate. Seniors you are excused, everyone else to the track and run 4 laps and once the team is clear of this place you can change and get to class. Oh, don't look for any late slips from us. Enjoy you day and find a way to figure this out. Think about the publicity if we field a team of Seniors and JV players with all you guys suspended for violating team rules. Then he went to his office and closed the door.
We all took quick showers so everyone else could be on time. There was very little conversation and we were actually very early for class. Many of us gathered in the hall and it was small clicks. Then I realized we blew it and we should have run laps, all for one. I gathered a bunch of guys around me and said, I don't know about anyone else but I will be in the bleachers with every one else. Then I laughed out loud when I heard I'M SPARTACUS. Then it got funnier when someone said, FUCK SPARTACUS, IM ANTHOS. That was immediately followed by ALL FOR ONE and the reply followed ONE FOR ALL. Just then coach Weston walked by and said that's a pit late, I was sure you would be running laps. He just kept walking to his office in school. I realized immediately that it would be a JV team Friday unless Wyatt and Clark worked things out.
Then it hit me and I went right to the Athletic Office and when Nancy saw me she pointed to the office. The door was open so I went in and sat down. Coach smiled and said that little session in the hall, it finally made sense to you, correct? I said yup, how long have you known? Well Mike, I stopped coaching when you were in 6th grade and it was already your team then. Every year that passed and you moved up a grade you left a message for the younger guys. Coach, so I'm not confused what was the message? Coach laughed and said well, work like I do or get out. Mike not only football but with school and life. This summer when I kept asking you to workout here, it was because they needed to see you work and for you to see them work. I have never had a group of guys work so hard off season. Mike, last year the coach tried to take the team from you and we both know how well that worked. Then there was Jeff and his antics. That ended when you stopped going, you didn't say anything you just stopped and Jeff imploded. Mike, that's all ancient history. This year we, the administration, fucked up the team when we mishandled Sam. We all knew that Jim was having arm issues and we all felt Sam would take over. Sam paid lip service to the program. The real issue is that you blamed yourself for Sam and are still pissed that we simply let him move on. We replaced Adam with a Freshman new comer. He is unaware of the program. Yes he works hard but he is 100% football, he underachieves in the classroom. Mike, you biggest message that you finally vocalized this year, Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno. Mike the real translation is the team is bigger than even me. So Mike what are you going to do about your program?
Coach, what are you going to do? He laughed and said manage your team and pretty much sit back and watch you deal with this moment and drag your team, like you have for years to a championship. Then I'll wok with Josh and Todd and manage them next year and the three of us will find another heir and it goes on and on. Coach, this afternoon it is practice as usual but I would like Wyatt, Clark, Josh, Todd and Jim in the principals office at 2:30. Clark, is pretty much an innocent victim and Wyatt's grandfather is the issue with Wyatt. Coach, I will calmly lay out the program that MUST be followed. Work hard, great grades and no one is bigger than the team and credit gets shared. Wyatt will need to demonstrate his acceptance of that as will Clark and that Clark will start on Friday. If that is unacceptable then they should quit and any inappropriate displays will result in a suspension for violating team rules. Coach, we will both make it clear that I am putting words to what you and I have decided. Coach, we good? He laughed and said yes but I'm inviting JJ as he is new to the program but totally bought in. I laughed and said, well football is a universal language.
I made most of English and all the other classes and signed out of gym and started for the office. I stopped at a local deli and ordered a lunch meat tray and a salad for 6 and drove to the office. In my office Liam was finishing work on the wall and there was a VT uniform picture #24 a picture oh Lane Stadium and Hokie Bird. Also on the was was the picture of me and Jim and the metal, Cole and Liam, AP and me, Ashley, Dad and Megan. JJ, in a flight suit getting out of an F16 with his dad. There was a picture of Oakmont and a cluster of smaller pictures of the leaders of the Industrial Revolution. Then there was a picture of me and Admiral Truly at NASA. There was also an Ariel view of the CMU campus and finally a picture me in my high school football uniform. I looked at Liam and asked, so I'm paying you to be an interior designer. He laughed and said well you would never do it. I smiled and said great job.
We were talking and my desk phone rand and security said sir, your guest are here? I said thanks but dude, I'm Mike and he said yes sir and I simply hung up. There were chatting other security and I introduce Liam and took them outside. I pointed to building 2 and said it was started second and is rents to the Union and Voxtronix and that the 4th floor was overflow for Technologies and startups and the fist floor oils be the restaurant for the taut club. We walked along the river side and I briefly outlined the history of the land and how the building was designed to represent our regions past. As we walked inside I told them that they would see what I hoped would be what we would become. We walked through the first floor and I pointed out some of the furniture and it's features and the openness. We skipped the other floors as I told them it was a different layout but the same furniture and that the colors were different.
On the 4th floor I introduced Amy and Kyle came out and said hello. Most of the offices were now furnished and when we got to mine Coach Westerfield asked, is this yours? I said yes all 4 floors and both buildings. we didn't spend much time in the office and went outside where lunch was set up. We talked and ate and I pointed somethings out about the view. It was a bit chilly so we went back inside and when you do that you see my desk and the wall. Both coaches stopped and stood there staring. I smiled and said well the wall is and always will be a work in progress. Mike, what makes you think you would get #24 and Liam said well I did that and figure if it was taken Mike would either arm wrestle the dude for it or make him an offer he couldn't refuse. Coach B went right to the space shuttle and I said coach, that's here because we fixed a problem they had with the arm. It's signed by the crew and Major Messer was the commander, he works for me and is JJ's dad. Oh, if you want he will fly you back to Blacksburg. JJ and I would bo it but we have practice. Then Coach Westerfield asked Mike, how much did you have to do with all this? Coach B immediately said Bart, he runs this and built these buildings and I'm guessing Liam is here to get to know us as he will work his ass off to keep Mike in Blacksburg rather than in the full version of that model sitting near the shuttle. I smiled and said Coach, that's correct. So how do you want to get home? Coach B said a private ride would be nice and Liam called Jim and I walked the to security where Jim was waiting. I looked at Liam and said thanks but now I have to put a football team back together.
I stopped at a Wendy's and grabbed an iced tea. While sitting in the parking lot I went over in my mind the approach and tone for this next event. The morning was total shit, the afternoon accomplished what I wanted and let the assistant know and reinforce with Coach B who and what I was besides a football player. I laughed as I knew I wasn't developing a program at VT I need to find a way to mix into their program and yet be Mike. Back to tonight I knew that I needed to be calm and matter of fact, yet be in charge and not take over totally from Coach Weston. With that I tossed the garbage from the drink and drove to school. At school I went to the Principal's area and was directed to a smaller office that an assistant principal used. There I found Dr. Johnson and Coach. There Dr. Johnson said Mike, Chuck and I have a had a long talk and I agree with what is about to happen but you can't overstep. Both lads will need to make a decision but I don't want to lose either one of them. There will be no repeat of the Sam situation as we will fight either transfer. Doc, I totally understand and while this is complicated I'll ask them to agree to what needs to happen next and stress that me telling them what's what is thought to be in their best interest, equal to equal. Dr. Johnson laughed and said if you pull that off you could sell beach front property in Kansas. I laughed and said let's see what this becomes.
NOTE
Thanks, so much for the comments, it helps me and impacts the story. A reader mentioned that all the woman in his life from his mom to Heather have either slapped Mike's face or tried to. I hadn't realized that and that needs explored. THANKS FOR THAT!
I just realized that when a chapter is posted NIFTY indicates in the stories old location that there is a post in the new location. I appreciate that and would ask if possible that everyone support NIFTY